Flower Essences to Regulate Our Stress Response

Today many people suffer from chronic stress. The potential sources of threat have increased in the modern landscape. Our soundscape keeps our system activated on some level. Our lifestyle can also intensify our vigilance for threats. Some people look to using stress management techniques, transforming their stress response to challenge response, and re-looking at their priorities. We can also use flower essences to regulate stress response by energetically balancing our chakras.

In Stars of the Meadow practitioner and teacher David Dalton describes the use of 40+ medicinal herbs as flower essences. Many people may already be familiar with Dr Bach’s system or perhaps the Australian Bush Flower essences. For those new to flower essences, David Dalton describes them as “liquid energetic remedies derived from living flowers. They bring the natural dynamic energy of the plant directly into the human electrosystem, where it works to bring about movement toward health and balance.”

Red and Blue Energies and the Chakra System

Chakras are organs of the body’s energy system. Portals and vortices of energy, they bring in and distribute energy to the body. While many people work primarily with seven major in-body chakras, there are additional chakras and many different systems.

These seven are the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras, moving from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each has its own vibrational level, related endocrine system, associated colours, element, emotions, and more.

The root or first chakra and its health are foundational to the overall system. This chakra relates to safety and survival. The color of the root chakra is red. However, like all chakras, the root chakra can take on a more red or blue colour and energy. This shift depends on whether a person perceives a threat or feels safe.

Two channels – the red and the blue channels – connect the chakras. When a person feels threatened, the red energy is activated. The first chakra signals the second chakra which closes, sending red energy upward. All the chakras then take on a more red energy and colour. This activates the body to respond energetically and therefore protect the organism from harm.

David Dalton writes that repressed red energy, including not expressing anger, can cause health issues. Inflammation, for example, can be unexpressed red energy that continues to circulate.

This red energy is also activated when we are under stress. If someone is chronically stressed, that person’s system will be more red. Constant activation can lead to imbalance and health issues.

Why is a healthy Root Chakra Important?

As chakras also hold soul energy, a well-developed chakra helps anchor a person spiritually. A healthy chakra system supports a person in all ways, from physical health to emotional harmony.

The root chakra individuates from the parental system in childhood. Healthy development depends on a feeling of safety and security. Having unmet emotional needs or suffering abuse in childhood disrupts this chakra’s ability to receive energy and hold soul force.

This chakra is also connected to our fight-flight response. Because it is survival-based in evolutionary terms, this response is not rational. How we respond to a situation emotionally depends on our database of past experiences and memories. A person may therefore feel unsafe if the present circumstance resembles or has resonance with a past one that was threatening.

A healthy root chakra, on the other hand, signals to the rest of the system that it is safe. Safe for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Our nervous system switches from the sympathetic fight-or-flight (or freeze) to the parasympathetic relax-and digest.

Flower Essences to Regulate Our Stress Response

The good news is that flower essences can powerfully influence the root chakra and bring it into balance. One flower essence to have on hand for emergencies is the Bach Rescue Remedy or Five Flowers Remedy from FES. This combo includes Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem, and Cherry Plum. A fantastic flower essence to deal with shock, terror, panic, irritation, and being ungrounded.

Some people may prefer Emergency from Australian Bush Flower Essence system. It is a personal preference. Whatever is yours, it is helpful to have it on hand and stocked in your first aid kit.

Specifically for the root chakra, a multitude of flower essences are supportive and can harmonize this chakra. Here we share three from Stars of the Meadow.

Blue VervainVerbana hastate
“I am safe in the Power of Love”

Also called Wild Hyssop, Blue Vervain is a blue flower. The flowers, leaves, and stems are all used medicinally. Blue Vervain energetically supports the blue channel, bringing the energy downward and strengthening the first chakra. By soothing the nervous system, this flower essence especially helps with mental stress.

Blue Vervain helps to balance the workaholic who can be chronically stressed.

David Dalton also suggests this flower remedy for show or racing animals, as well as high-achieving or first born children or those of high-achieving parents.

Black CohoshCimicifuga racemosa
“No harm comes to me”

This plant with white flowers and black roots helps with the fear of violence. It supports the root chakra by energizing it, thereby raising its vibration. This helps a person be more resilient and be less susceptible to low vibrations. The Black Cohosh remedy helps children who are scared of strong, aggressive, or loud personalities. Also dogs who react to loud voices.

SkullcapScuttellaria laterifolia
“I am with others like myself”

A low-growing herb with blue flowers, Skullcap flower essence stimulates the blue channel. It connects all chakras and integrates the first three chakras. The person is then able to feel connected. In this way, we can strengthen the chakra system. David Dalton suggests in Stars of the Meadow using this flower essence along with therapy for PTSD. Skullcap is also beneficial for animals who are aggressive or over-protective as a result of trauma.

Flower essences are a form of vibrational and energy medicine. They are wonderfully effective and well received by children, animals, and adults. As many of us are feeling ungrounded, perhaps angry at our boundaries and sense of security and safety shaken, we can look to flower essences to regulate our stress response.

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Sandra Shih / About Author

Sandra Shih is the editor of What Therapy. She is also a Jin Shin Jyutsu and Quantum Biofeedback practitioner and a certified Heartmath Resilience Advantage Trainer. Her focus is self-care and resilience through effective energetic management.